Rock the Street, Wall Street’s Woman of the Year Luncheon
Honoring our visionary Founder
Maura Cunningham as
RTSWS 2025 Woman of the Year
About this event
Date
Thursday, March 27
Time
11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location
Richland Country Club
1 Club Drive
Nashville, TN
37215
Awardees
Woman of the Year
Maura Cunningham
RTSWS Founder & Executive Chair
Champion of the Year
Anders Hall
RTSWS Chair of the Board &
Vanderbilt University’s Vice Chancellor for Investments & Chief Investment Officer
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Event Sponsor
Event Co-Chairs
Ashley Leftwich
CEO
Rock The Street Wall Street
Keri McInnis
SVP
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Your Impact
As a supporter of financial literacy, your participation helps expand access to Financial & Investment education for high school girls. RTSWS students are 5x more likely than the national average female university student to major in finance and related fields, breaking barriers and redefining the future of the industry.
Rock The Street Wall Street and Citadel and Citadel Securities Celebrate International Women’s Day by Connecting Students to Careers in Finance
Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), a nonprofit bringing the M in STEM to life for high school and university women, proudly collaborated with Citadel and Citadel Securities to host an International Women’s Day event giving RTSWS students and alumnae a front-row seat to careers in finance. This initiative provided attendees with actionable insights, direct industry access, and invaluable networking opportunities with professionals from Citadel and Citadel Securities.
Ashley Leftwich, CEO of RTSWS moderated a panel discussion featuring female leaders from Citadel and Citadel Securities who shared their career journeys, experiences in finance, and guidance for young women entering the field.
Demystifying Careers in Finance Panelists:
· Emily Yan, Director, Citadel Global Equities
· Bhavya Kethireddipalli, Associate, Citadel
· Melody Wen, Quantitative Trader, Citadel Securities
· Ashley Leftwich, CEO, RTSWS (Moderator)
Following the discussion, RTSWS students and alumnae participated in interactive networking sessions, engaging in small-group conversations with professionals from both firms. These sessions provided students the opportunity to build connections, ask career-focused questions, and gain firsthand knowledge about roles in investing, trading, and quantitative finance.
“As we empower young women in finance, we are grateful to collaborate with Citadel and Citadel Securities for this International Women’s Day event as we continue working to level the playing field for young women in finance,” said Ms. Leftwich. “Bringing the M in STEM to life through financial and investment fundamentals is central to our mission, and this event provides students with the visibility, mentorship, and career pathways that help students thrive in the industry and see what’s possible.”
Citadel and Citadel Securities echoed the importance of increasing pathways to careers in finance and technology. “A diverse team and a meritocratic culture are foundational to delivering on our mission,” said Julia Quinn, Director of Philanthropy for Citadel and Citadel Securities. “We are proud to partner with RTSWS as part of our broader commitment to supporting educational access, increasing exposure to our industry, and broadening pathways into the firms for talented students.”
The event concluded with small-group networking between students and professionals from Citadel and Citadel Securities, followed by closing remarks that underscored the power of the panel and the meaningful industry discussions for the RTSWS students.
RTSWS thanks Citadel, Citadel Securities, and its generous volunteers for their participation. By creating meaningful opportunities for young women to explore financial careers, this event reinforces the importance of mentorship, representation, and industry access.
About Rock The Street, Wall Street
Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the M in STEM to life for high school girls and university women through financial and investment mathematics. By providing industry access, mentorship, and
career guidance, RTSWS supports young women on their journey from classrooms to careers, expanding their participation in the capital markets and financial workforce. Founded by Maura Cunningham, RTSWS operates in 60+ schools across 30+ cities in the US, Canada, and the UK
Celebrating Women’s History Month with RTSWS
RTSWS Celebrates Women’s Month Across 30+ Cities
Rock The Street Wall Street (RTSWS) proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with a series of impactful events spanning more than 30 cities across the US, Canada and the UK. Throughout March, RTSWS is connecting students, alumnae and industry leaders with both its Founder and its CEO through keynotes, panels, mentorship, and networking, reinforcing its mission to bring the M in STEM to life through financial and investment mathematics for young women.
Rock The Street Wall Street is collaborating with Citadel and Citadel Securities for an International Women’s Day event in New York, giving high school students and alumnae a front-row seat to careers in finance. RTSWS CEO Ashley Leftwich will moderate a panel featuring Citadel’s Emily Yan and Bhavya Kethireddipalli, along with Citadel Securities’ Melody Wen, who will share insights on careers in investment management, trading, and quantitative finance. The event will also include small-group networking with Citadel professionals from both firms, offering students valuable industry access and background insight.
Another featured event is the Inaugural RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon, honoring Founder Maura Cunningham for her leadership in advancing financial and investment literacy for over 7,500 young women. Set for March 27 in Nashville, Tennessee, the event will be co-chaired by Ashley Leftwich and Keri McInnis, SVP at Pinnacle Financial Partners, the event’s presenting sponsor.
“Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate progress and drive continued action,” said Ashley Leftwich, CEO of Rock The Street Wall Street. “It’s an opportunity to expand access for young women in finance while reinforcing our commitment to creating more pathways in the industry. From our visionary Founder to our dedicated sponsors, volunteers and students, we are proud of this work and grateful to those who help open doors for the next generation of women in the capital markets.”
Beyond these milestone events, RTSWS expands its offerings to serve young women entering the industry:
> RTSWS established its West Coast Advisory Council, expanding opportunities in key financial hubs with regional leaders.
> Alumnae & Career Center increases Open Role Opportunities and virtual programming, including recent sessions for RTSWS students such as, Crafting Your Resume for University & Career Success as well as Career Insights: Exploring Paths for University and Beyond.
> The Executive Sponsor & Volunteer Gallery launches this month, highlighting industry leaders and their impact on RTSWS students, with featured spotlights including Kristie Feinberg, President & CEO, Manulife John Hancock Investments, Manulife Wealth & Asset Management.
RTSWS invites you to help expand access for young women and celebrate Women’s History Month in a meaningful way.
Click to register for the RTSWS Woman of the Year Luncheon
Click to support RTSWS programs
Supporters can post open roles to the RTSWS Alumnae & Career Center
About Rock The Street Wall Street
Rock The Street Wall Street (RTSWS) empowers high school girls and university women by bringing the M in STEM to life through Financial & Investment fundamentals. Providing industry access, mentorship and career guidance to support students and alumnae on their journey from classrooms to careers, RTSWS fosters expanded participation in the capital markets.
The 2024 RTSWS Annual Report has been recently released, showcasing the organization’s growth and industry collaborations. Each year more than 1,000 RTSWS students enter the workforce through internships and early-career roles, many of which are sourced through the RTSWS Career Center. Alumnae demonstrate a 70% increase in Financial & Investment literacy and RTSWS students pursue finance, economics and related degrees at five times the national rate for female students, driving a more inclusive and dynamic future across the industry.
- International Women’s Day Across 30 Cities
- Rock the Street, Wall Street’s Woman of the Year Luncheon
- Rock The Street Wall Street and Citadel and Citadel Securities Celebrate International Women’s Day by Connecting Students to Careers in Finance
- Celebrating Women’s History Month with RTSWS
- RTSWS Celebrates Women’s Month Across 30+ Cities
